It was a hot summer for Polish politics. Back in July, someone leaked a secretly recorded video, in which Władysław Serafin, chairman of the National Union of Farmers and Farmers’ Associations and a top member of the ruling coalition’s PSL party, talks with Władysław Łukasik, former head of the governmental Agriculture Market Agency (ARR). In the video, Łukasik lists a host of malpractices at the PSL-dominated ARR, ranging from nepotism to mismanagement of the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that the agency oversees. The abuses included what the prosecutor’s office called “numerous financial irregularities” concerning payments made to members of the board of Elewarr, a grain company owned by ARR.

As a result of the scandal, Poland’s Minister of Agriculture resigned (albeit without admitting any guilt), the head of Elewarr was dismissed, and the investigation continues. Read More...

As we reflect on the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent development of former Soviet republics as independent countries, the story of corruption is a difficult one to avoid.

Corruption, in many ways, became synonymous with the early years of transition. Over the years it has grown to be the defining feature of many of the today’s political and economic systems in the region. All this despite the increasing rhetoric about the need to fight it.

CIPE is the international affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and CIPE’s programs are at the cutting edge of anti-corruption and corporate governance around the world. With more than 30 years’ experience in more than 100 countries, CIPE reduces the cost and risk of operating in high-risk markets.